Nicole Kettwick’s client was charged with Driving While Impaired in Columbia Heights, Anoka County, after a serious crash that resulted in substantial property damage as well as a significant injury that required hospitalization. Upon searching Nicole’s client’s car, the police found several prescriptions for methadone (a Schedule II drug) that the client had picked up that morning, and he was using under the supervision of his doctor as part of his treatment plan.
The police got a warrant and tested Nicole’s clients blood for the presence of controlled substances. Unsurprisingly, they found the prescription methadone present, and, after waiting for one year for blood results, they charged Nicole’s client.
After six months of legal challenges and negotiations, Nicole was able to successfully convince the Prosecutor to amend the charges to Careless Driving, and convince the Judge to agree to NOT suspend her client’s driving privileges as a result of the injury.